Suspension monorail with climbing trolley

Abstract

The invention involves a suspended trolley line, particularly an electric monorail line with at least one undercarriage movable along running rails and with a running wheel that may be driven along the rail. At least two frictional wheels are spaced from each other and positioned on the running wheel. The frictional wheels are guided on the undercarriage by a connecting element and are braced against each other by a spring element, such that the frictional wheels additionally contact the supplemental rail and impinge upon the running wheel with pressure when in an operating position. The supplemental rail is located at least partially parallel to the running rail and spaced therefrom. The driven undercarriage is simple in its construction and has improved traction characteristics and therefore is particularly capable of being used in ascending and descending sections of the trolley line. The frictional wheels, the connecting element and the spring element form an assembly unit lying on the running wheel. The assembly unit is guided by a guide element on the undercarriage such that the assembly unit is movable about the running wheel between an operating position and a neutral position. In the neutral position, a front frictional wheel moves into the clearance between the running rail and the supplemental rail, and is pivotable into the operating position by a rear frictional wheel, as the rear frictional wheel contacts the supplemental rail and subsequently pivots downward.

The embodiments of the present invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
       1. An assembly unit for use on an undercarriage of a suspended trolley line, which includes a running rail, a supplemental rail positioned at least occasionally along the running rail and substantially parallel to the running rail with a spacing therebetween, and at least one undercarriage having a front and a rear and including a running wheel that is at least occasionally driven along the running rail, such that the least one undercarriage is movable along the running rail, said assembly unit comprising: 
       at least two frictional wheels positioned apart from each other and adapted to contact the running wheel;  
       a connecting element which is adapted to guide said at least two frictional wheels on the undercarriage; and  
       a spring element which biases each of said at least two frictional wheels against the other, wherein said assembly unit is adapted to be guided on the undercarriage by a guide element such that said assembly unit is movable about the running wheel between an operating position and a neutral position, a front frictional wheel being movable to provide clearance from the supplemental rail in said neutral position, when the undercarriage is in an area of the trolley line where the supplemental rail is present, said assembly unit is in said operating position, said at least two frictional wheels being operable to contact the supplemental rail and the running wheel in said operating position, thereby exerting a pressure upon the running wheel, said assembly unit being pivotable about the running wheel in response to a rear frictional wheel contacting the supplemental rail and thereby moving said assembly unit into said operating position.  
     
     
       2. The assembly unit according to claim  1 , wherein a second spring element is attachable to the undercarriage and engages said connecting element in an area of said front frictional wheel, said assembly unit being held in said neutral position by said second spring element. 
     
     
       3. The assembly unit according to claim  1 , wherein the running rail is I-shaped, the undercarriage including a drive unit for driving the running wheel and a plurality of guide rollers, the guide rollers being rotatable around a plurality of vertical axles for lateral guidance of the undercarriage along the rail, the running wheel being in rolling contact with an upper flange of the running rail, and load-suspension equipment being suspended from the undercarriage. 
     
     
       4. An assembly unit for use on an undercarriage of a suspended trolley line which includes a running rail, a supplemental rail positioned at least occasionally along the running rail and substantially parallel to the running rail with a spacing therebetween, and at least one undercarriage having a front and a rear and including a running wheel that is at least occasionally driven along the running rail, such that the least one undercarriage is movable along the running rail, said assembly unit comprising: 
       at least two frictional wheels positioned apart from each other and adapted to contact: the running wheel; a connecting element which is adapted to guide said at least two frictional wheels on the undercarriage;  
       a spring element which biases each of said at least two frictional wheels against the other, wherein said assembly unit is adapted to be guided on the undercarriage by a guide element such that said assembly unit is movable about the running wheel between an operating position and a neutral position a front frictional wheel being movable to provide clearance from the supplemental rail in said neutral position, when the undercarriage is in an area of the trolley line where the supplemental rail is present, said assembly unit is in said operating position, said at least two frictional wheels being operable to contact the supplemental rail and the running wheel in said operating position, thereby exerting a pressure upon the running wheel, said assembly unit being movable into said operating position by a rear frictional wheel which is adapted to contact the supplemental rail; and  
       a weight element being located on said connecting element in an area adjacent said front frictional wheel, said assembly unit being held in said neutral position outside of areas with supplemental rails by said weight element.  
     
     
       5. The assembly unit according to claim  4 , wherein said guide element consists of a pin element located on said connecting element and a support element positionable on a frame of the undercarriage and having a curved opening for engaging said pin element, the curvature of said curved opening having a radius, said support element being positionable on the frame such that a center point of said radius is aligned with a carrying axle of the running wheel of the undercarriage. 
     
     
       6. The assembly unit according to claim  5 , wherein said connecting element consists of a swinging part and an angled part, said swinging part and said angled part being flexibly connected with each other through a swivel pin, an end of said angled part opposite said swivel pin being connected with said swinging part through said spring element. 
     
     
       7. The assembly unit according to claim  2 , wherein a second pin is located on said end of said angled part opposite said swivel pin, said second pin engaging a slot located on said swinging part, such that said angled part is pivotable relative to said swinging part. 
     
     
       8. The assembly unit according to claim  7 , wherein said front frictional wheel is supported by an axle at a front end of said swinging part, said rear frictional wheel being supported by an axle in a center portion of said angled part. 
     
     
       9. The assembly unit according to claim  7 , wherein an end of said swinging part extends beyond said front frictional wheel, said second pin being located on said end of said swinging part. 
     
     
       10. An assembly unit for use on an undercarriage of a suspended trolley line, which includes a running rail, a supplemental rail positioned at least occasionally along the running rail and substantially parallel to the running rail with a spacing therebetween, and at least one undercarriage having a front and a rear and including a running wheel that is at least occasionally driven along the running rail, such that the least one undercarriage is movable alone the running rail, said assembly unit comprising: 
       at least two frictional wheels positioned apart from each other and adapted to contact the running wheel;  
       a connecting element which is adapted to guide said at least two frictional wheels on the undercarriage;  
       a spring element which biases each of said at least two frictional wheels against the other, wherein said assembly unit is adapted to be guided on the undercarriage by a guide element such that said assembly unit is movable about the running wheel between an operating position and a neutral position, a front frictional wheel being movable to provide clearance from the supplemental rail in said neutral position, when the undercarriage is in an area of the trolley line where the supplemental rail is present, said assembly unit is in said operating position, said at least two frictional wheels being operable to contact the supplemental rail and the running wheel in said operating position, thereby exerting a pressure upon the running wheel said assembly unit being movable into said operating position by a rear frictional wheel which is adapted to contact the supplemental rail; and  
       a second spring element attachable to the undercarriage, said second spring element being engagable with said connecting element in an area of said front frictional wheel, said assembly unit being held in said neutral position by said second spring element, said guide element consisting of a pin element located on said connecting element and a support element positionable on a frame of the undercarriage and having a curved opening for engaging said pin element, the curvature of said curved opening having a radius, said support element being positionable on the frame such that a center point of said radius is aligned with a carrying axle of the running wheel of the undercarriage.  
     
     
       11. The assembly unit according to claim  10 , wherein said connecting element consists of a swinging part and an angled part, said swinging part and said angled part being flexibly connected with each other through a swivel pin, an end of said angled part opposite said swivel pin being connected with said swinging part through said spring element. 
     
     
       12. The assembly unit according to claim  11 , wherein a second pin is located on said end of said angled part opposite said swivel pin, said second pin engaging a slot located on said swinging part, such that said angled part is pivotable relative to said swinging part. 
     
     
       13. The assembly unit according to claim  12 , wherein said front frictional wheel is supported by an axle at a front end of said swinging part, said rear frictional wheel being supported by an axle in a center portion of said angled part. 
     
     
       14. The assembly unit according to claim  12 , wherein an end of said swinging part extends beyond said front frictional wheel, said second pin being located on said end of said swinging part. 
     
     
       15. An assembly unit for use on an undercarriage of a suspended trolley line, which includes a running rail, a supplemental rail positioned at least occasionally along the running rail and substantially parallel to the running rail with a spacing therebetween, and at least one undercarriage having a front and a rear and, including a running wheel that is at least occasionally driven along the running rail, such that the least one undercarriage is movable along the running rail, said assembly unit comprising: at least two frictional wheels positioned apart from each other and adapted to contact the running wheel; 
       a connecting element which is adapted to guide said at least two frictional wheels on the undercarriage; and  
       a spring element which biases each of said at least two frictional wheels against the other, wherein said assembly unit is adapted to be guided on the undercarriage by a guide element such that said assembly unit is movable about the running wheel between an operating position and a neutral position, a front frictional wheel being movable to provide clearance from the supplemental rail in said neutral position, when the undercarriage is in an area of the trolley line where the supplemental rail is present, said assembly unit is in said operating position, said at least two frictional wheels being operable to contact the supplemental rail and the running wheel in said operating position, thereby exerting a pressure upon the running wheel, said assembly unit being movable into said operating position by a rear frictional wheel which is adapted to contact the supplemental rail said guide element consisting of a pin element located on said connecting element and a support element positionable on a frame of the undercarriage and having a curved opening for engaging said pin element, the curvature of said curved opening having a radius, said support element being positionable on the frame such that a center point of said radius is aligned with a carrying axle of the running wheel of the undercarriage.  
     
     
       16. The assembly unit according to claim  15 , wherein said connecting element consists of a swinging part and an angled part, said swinging part and said angled part being flexibly connected with each other through a swivel pin, an end of said angled part opposite said swivel pin being connected with said swinging part through said spring element. 
     
     
       17. The assembly unit according to claim  16 , wherein a second pin is located on said end of said angled part opposite said swivel pin, said second pin engaging a slot located on said swinging part, such that said angled part is pivotable relative to said swinging part. 
     
     
       18. The assembly unit according to claim  17 , wherein said front frictional wheel is supported by an axle at a front end of said swinging part, said rear frictional wheel being supported by an axle in a center portion of said angled part. 
     
     
       19. The assembly unit according to claim  17 , wherein an end of said swinging part extends beyond said front frictional wheel, said second pin being located on said end of said swinging part. 
     
     
       20. An assembly unit for use on an undercarriage of a suspended trolley line which includes a running rail, a supplemental rail positioned at least occasionally along the running rail and substantially parallel to the running, rail with a spacing therebetween and at least one undercarriage having a front and a rear and including a running wheel that is at least occasionally driven along the running rail, such that the least one undercarriage is movable along the running rail said assembly unit comprising: 
       at least two frictional wheels positioned apart from each other and adapted to contact the running wheel:  
       a connecting element which is adapted to guide said at least two frictional wheels on the undercarriage: and  
       a spring element which biases each of said at least two frictional wheels against the other, wherein said assembly unit is adapted to be guided on the undercarriage by a guide element such that said assembly unit is movable about the running wheel between an operating position and a neutral position a front frictional wheel being movable to provide clearance from the supplemental rail in said neutral position, when the undercarriage is in an area of the trolley line where the supplemental rail is present, said assembly unit is in said operating position, said at least two frictional wheels being operable to contact the supplemental rail and the running wheel in said operating position, thereby exerting a pressure upon the running wheel, said assembly unit being movable into said operating position by a rear frictional wheel which is adapted to contact the supplemental rail, said connecting element consisting of a swinging part and an angled part, said swinging part and said angled part being flexibly connected with each other through a swivel pin, an end of said angled part opposite said swivel pin being connected with said swinging part through said spring element.  
     
     
       21. An assembly unit for use on an undercarriage of a suspended trolley line, which includes an I-shaped running rail, a supplemental rail positioned at least occasionally along the running rail and substantially parallel to the running rail with a spacing therebetween, and at least one undercarriage having a front and a rear and including a running wheel that is at least occasionally driven along the running rail, such that the least one undercarriage is movable along the running rail, said assembly unit comprising: 
       at least two frictional wheels positioned apart from each other and adapted to contact the running wheel:  
       a connecting element which is adapted to guide said at least two frictional wheels on the undercarriage; and  
       a spring element which biases each of said at least two frictional wheels against the other, wherein said assembly unit is adapted to be guided on the undercarriage by a guide element such that said assembly unit is movable about the running wheel between an operating position and a neutral position, a front frictional wheel being movable to provide clearance from the supplemental rail in said neutral position, when the undercarriage is in an area of the trolley line where the supplemental rail is present, said assembly unit is in said operating position, said at least two frictional wheels being operable to contact the supplemental rail and the running wheel in said operating position, thereby exerting a pressure upon the running wheel, said assembly unit being movable into said operating position by a rear frictional wheel which is adapted to contact the supplemental rail, the undercarriage including a drive unit for driving the running wheel and a plurality of guide rollers, the guide rollers being rotatable around a plurality of vertical axles for lateral guidance of the undercarriage along the rail, the running wheel being in rolling contact with an upper flange of the running rail, and load-suspension equipment being suspended from the undercarriage, the load-suspension equipment having a load spreader that is pivotably connected at one end to the undercarriage by a vertical axle and pivotably connected at another end to a non-driven undercarriage by a second vertical axle, said non-driven undercarriage having guide rollers and a support wheel.